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An UrbanDaddy Publication

10/26/2011

The Casual Mystique of George Harrison

George was the quiet one—at least according to the fan magazines.

But while Lennon and McCartney still soak up most of the praise, we’d like to single out Mr. Harrison as the most stylish of the Beatles. We don’t mean the Hard Day’s Night-era Chesterfields, or the Tommy Nutter suits that came a few years later. Once he shook off the mantle of the Biggest Band Ever, George developed a low-key style that outlasted all of it, all without drawing attention to itself.

So on the heels of Martin Scorsese’s new documentary about the underdog Beatle, we're taking a closer look at the man’s unique style. Especially the quiet parts.

Perfectly Embodied:We’d hate to overlook George’s greaser period (see above), but the man had a way with double denim. It wasn’t even the crisp, raw denim you’re used to seeing today. He went for broken-in jeans and frayed button-ups—the kind of gear you’re used to seeing on a professional gardener. Together with long flowing locks and a penchant for goat-like beards, it’s been the template for transcendental crooners ever since—not least that chap from the Fleet Foxes.

Words of Wisdom:It’s being here now that’s important. There’s no past and there’s no future. Time is a very misleading thing. All there is ever, is the now.

The Backstory:Style is an unavoidably superficial thing, but George stumbled early on into a near-timeless uniform of unpretentious work clothes—quite possibly the least trendy take on personal style possible. And give or take a few Fair Isle sweaters, he stuck to it for decades on end—bolstering his status as the spiritual guru of pop along the way. Apparently, staying quiet has its benefits.